Castle Sinclair up here in the very north is a smaller ruin, but one of the most impressive ones…read morewe've visited. And we've visited many. The location is really just breathtaking, sitting here by the sea on the cliffs. Dunnottar castle has a similar location and is bigger, but this one here is equally impressive I'd say. In 1379, the Earldom of Orkney passed by marriage to Henry Sinclair. It was possibly him who first built a castle here which he called Castle Girnigoe. Then it was remodelled and redeveloped in the 1400s with more work done in the 1500s and 1600s. In 1680 a party of men led by George Sinclair stripped it of roofs, floors and furniture. Now the ruins still sit there on the rock formations, making it a very impressive sight when you approach it. It's an easy, short and flat walk from the carpark. Nowadays the castle is easy to access via a bridge built in 2008. A lot of the ruins are open to explore. You even can walk a short path down to the shore. It's a real fun place to explore. And it's still a bit of a hidden gem. We really only met few visitors on this pretty sunny summer day. There's not even any entrance fee - I'm suprised that this isn't more popular. A real highlight and definitely a must-do when up here in the North.

This once impregnable medieval stronghold is now the most spectacular ruin in the North of Scotland…read moreis a extremely wonderful and historic place to visit, it has spectacular views over the north sea as it is right on the cliff edge, which is great news for bird watchers and the marine wildlife is great you might catch a sight of orca whales dolphins and seals. It has just had new path ways and bridges erected so it is easier to access.

Oh my goodness we went into this Museum to do something on a rainy day. What a surprise. Three…read morehours later we were still at it. So many interesting items and displays. Not only displays about the fishing of herring the hard life of fishing and processing herring, it also showed equipment used. Smoke house, boats, house with bedrooms, kitchen, baths , laundry. These rooms had equipment, china,beds, quilts, clothing of the time period. I also was shown an Automatic Memorandum Clock, invented by John Davidson born 1858. Last but not least The Johnston Collection. Black and white photo's of Wick, the herring industry photos and photos of the people. It includes haunting pictures of Tinkers living in caves. Stunning portrait photos of families and individuals. If you're in the Wick area this Museum should be on your bucket list. It is so worth a visit.

There is alot of history in this small ex-herring-fishing town…read more Was here on Tuesday morning March 25 and of course the centre was not open for business until March 29 for a gathering of tourists arriving to Wick via yacht. Anyways this business requires 4 sterling pounds per person and if you like there are docents to give tours of the many rooms containing antiques and replicas of things that made Wick wick. A lot of walking up and down the stairs so wear comfortable shoes. This place might not be something fun for children because there is no place to play. A lot of signs to not touch the ship models. Although this building appears small, there are about 5 other buildings connected to it and there is a building devoted to the "black day in wick because of herring overfishing", photographs and artifacts about family life in Wick in the 1800's, lighthouse materials, caithness glass history as well as a collection of proper red ceremonial gowns worn by past Royal burgh counselors. There is alot more information I have not covered so that is something you will have to uncover! I would go back here to visit the fabulous volunteer staff for letting our party enter the building even though closed for the winter season.

Not sure what the name of this historical place is. Seems Yelp doesn't know either because there…read moreare 2 Yelp pages for this UNESCO World Heritage site. Stenness Stone Circle or Standing Stones of Stenness? Which name is correct? Maybe both of them. The Ring of Brodgar is another of the Neolithic Stone Circles located in the Orkney Islands. Anyways, we visited both the Stenness Stone Circle (Standing Stones of Stenness) and the Ring of Brodgar. Both historic sites were part of a tour we took of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, and both sites were historically impressive. I was surprised to find out that the Stones of Stenness are actually older than the famous Stonehenge. Using radiocarbon analysis, the Stones of Stenness were dated to around 3100 to 2900 BC. That would make them about 5400 years old!!! Originally there were 12 large stones, but now there are only 4 stones left measuring up to 6 meters high. It is believed that back in the day, the Stones of Stenness was a ceremonial site that celebrated the relationship between past and living communities. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in a beautiful setting in the Orkney Islands. It is surrounded by a lush green setting close to the water. So pretty! From the Stenness Stone Circle (Standing Stones of Stenness) site, it is a short walk to the Barnhouse Settlement which is a the ruins of a Stone Age village. Very cool to see this UNESCO World Heritage site as well. Do Not Miss visiting this AWESOME Iconic Historical sight!! To see it in person is a One of a Kind experience!!

Historians consider the Stones o' Stenness the earliest henge monument in the British Isles,…read moreprobably erected five-and-a-half thousand years ago. Today, four of the original megaliths remain staunchly upright, part of the ellipse of 12 stones of which they were originally a part. The Standing Stones, along with Skara Brae, the Barnhouse Settlement, the Ring of Brodgar and Maeshowe, comprise the Heart of Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site. The size of the Standing Stones completely dwarfs a human, provoking the inevitable questions of how, not to mention exactly why, these Neolithic henges were built. Standing over the centerpiece of the ellipse, the stone hearth, one also contemplates the henge's place in stone age society all those thousands of years ago. While many of the original megaliths, as well as the encircling ditch and bank typical of stone henges, show little evidence of themselves today, it's not hard for a visitor to feel transported through time.

We only had about 90 minutes at Dunrobin, and cannot say enough good about it. The house was…read moredelightful, the staff friendly, and the history within *ALL* of these walls was staggering. Really wonderful. The grounds would have been worth the price of admission all on their own, and at the time of our trip (June) it was perfect to spend the last open hours at the house and then walk through the gardens for another 30 to 60 minutes. There was much more to explore, and we would have loved to spend more time!

I love this place!! It's an amazing adventure!…read more Dunrobin is an impressive castle, with a magnificent setting. I fell in love with this place!! Dunrobin Castle is North of Inverness, 1/2 mile from the town of Golspie. There is plenty of parking. Dunrobin Castle is the largest in the Northern Highlands with 189 rooms. Dunrobin Castle is also one of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the early 1300s! The Castle, which resembles a French château, was used as a naval hospital during the First World War and as a boys' boarding school.   Dunrobin Castle is open from 1st April to 31st October.   Perched on a high terrace above walled gardens, Dunrobin Castle, with fairytale spires and turrets, rises above the North Sea like an illustration from a storybook. This place is overwhelmingly spectacular. It's breathtaking!   There are few places in the world to match the mountains, moors and beaches of Sutherland. The combination of color and texture is quite magical.   The name Dun Robin means Robin's Hill or Fort in Gaelic.   It was encased by a series of additions from the 16th century onwards. In 1785 a large extension was constructed. Remarkably this early keep still survives, much altered, within the complex of these later extensions, making Dunrobin one of the oldest inhabited houses in Scotland. We were there at the perfect time and got to enjoy a falconry show. It was spectacular! Watching those birds of prey at work was amazing. Falconry was originally developed as a means of hunting fast or difficult prey as food for the table, and is still practiced for this purpose in many parts of the world today.   To train one of these fierce and fabulous birds is a long and difficult process and requires patience, expertise and dedication. Dunrobin Castle does a great job of showcasing this ancient art. I highly recommend this as one of your stops if you're ever in this area of Scotland! October 2023

Hoy is the second largest of the Orkney Islands, but has a tiny population of around 270, mostly…read moreconcentrated in the east of the island. The west side is much quieter (and Hoy is pretty quiet already) and consists effectively of just two settlements, the hamlet of Rackwick and Quoyness village. The Old Man of Hoy is the island's most famous attraction. It's a spectacular sea-stack, over 137m (450ft) high. As well as its height, the vivid red sandstone makes it an astonishing sight. The sandstone actually sits on a bed of hard (and very ancient) basalt rock. The stack itself may only be about 400 years old in its present form, as pictures and descriptions from earlier times refer only to a headland here, and it is thought that the stack was created by a series of storms in the 17th century. Erosion continues, so it is only a matter of time before the whole stack collapses. It's a challenging climb (for very experienced climbers only), and was only first ascended in 1966. Around 50 people a year attempt the climb these days, with several routes to choose from. Dangers include loose rocks, its sheer verticality and, of course, the incredibly changeable weather. (And once you get to the top, there's no alternative but to climb back down again, unless you've booked a helicopter). Amazingly, people have spent the night on the small grassy patch on the top. Not for the faint hearted! The easiest way to get a view is from the Thurso-Stromness ferry, although the stack is not terribly distinct as the background of the cliffs reduces the impact. The best way is to make a day trip from Stromness on the passenger ferry to Hoy (Quoyness), and then either hire a bike or take a taxi across to Rackwick. From there it is a 45 minute walk on a good, though steep, path to the cliffs at Hoy. (The care ferry goes to the other end of the island and is rather infrequent). The cliffs themselves are amazing enough, being some of the highest in the British Isles, but the stack is just astonishing. As well as the geology, the plant and animal life here is plentiful. It's a particular haven for rock-nesting birds, and insects. In my book, it is one of those places everyone should visit at least once in their life.

An awesome place to visit as all of Orkney, before going abroad see what the British Isles have to…read moreoffer. One the great sites in UK

The Dwarfie Stane lies a short walk from the road between Quoyness and Rackwick. It's a 5,000-year…read moreold neolithic tomb, hollowed out of a huge single piece of rock. It is assumed that the stone by the entrance once blocked the doorway, and it is known that the tomb was still sealed in the 16th century. The tomb itself comprises a single chamber, with two bed-like ledges, clearly built for people of smaller stature. It must have been a huge undertaking to make the tomb using only primitive bone and stone tools. The interior contains more 'modern' graffiti, including some carved in 1850 by the former British spy, Major W. Mounsey. The rock itself was probably deposited in the site by glacial action. Unsurprisingly, the Dwarfie Stane - Dwarf Stone in modern English - is associated with lots of legends, with dwarves and giants featuring strongly. The isolated location and incredibly bleak but beautiful landscape around only adds to the sense of mystery.

Finally, after 40yrs I made it to the Dwarfie Stane this year! Passed it so many times and was…read morealways put off by the walk up, but now that there is a decent, wooden track been constructed, it keeps you nice and dry and away from the boggy ground - for most of the way there. Well worth the walk....and boy do you feel isolated when you get up there - fabulous and very mysterious....

The Gloup is essentially a collapsed sea cave. If you have a boat small enough you can actually…read moresail right into it. Lots of people come out here to see it, as it makes an absolutely stunning location; the photo doesn't do it justice. There is also a walk you can do starting here and going round to the brough of Deerness, which is a tiny Island only just attached. There is a set of steps connecting it in order to walk on to it, but be careful as it is still situated among cliff tops. Then from here you can proceed to The Mull head nature reserve. The whole thing is a very long walk but worth it as there are some jaw-dropping views to see and as it is right out in the middle of no-where, it's quiet and peaceful. If you are trying to get here, it is best to follow a map as it is out in the countryside which means a lack of road signs or names. You can always ask for directions as the local people are friendly and will point you in the right direction.

Magical. Mystical. Mysterious. Special place to be. Try to read up a bit before arriving if you…read morecan. Don't rush. Enjoy the moments with the stones.

Being able to walk right up to history is magical! These are the oldest standing stones in Europeread more